CHIT CHAT: Karen Wilson Wong

Duxbury photographer Karen Wilson Wong traveled to Afghanistan last year to photograph the students at Zabuli Education Center outside Kabul, founded by former Duxbury resident Razia Jan.

By Peggy Mullen

The Patriot Ledger, Quincy, MA

By Peggy Mullen

Posted Sep. 19, 2013 at 12:01 AM
Updated Sep 19, 2013 at 7:11 PM

By Peggy Mullen

Posted Sep. 19, 2013 at 12:01 AM
Updated Sep 19, 2013 at 7:11 PM

» Social News

Duxbury photographer Karen Wilson Wong traveled to Afghanistan last year to photograph the students at Zabuli Education Center outside Kabul, founded by former Duxbury resident Razia Jan. These photographs, along with paintings by a number of artists, and author Elizabeth Suneby, who wrote “Razia’s Ray of Hope: One Girl’s Dream of an Education,” will be part of the opening reception for an exhibit at Framers Edge gallery in Braintree.

Wong talked about how she came to take the photos.

Q: When did you meet Razia Jan?

A: I got to know her over the years in Duxbury. I’m a freelance photographer for the Duxbury Clipper, and over the years I’ve covered different events when she was president of the Rotary Club. After 9/11 she started doing events for kids in Afghanistan. I wouldn’t say we spent a lot of time together, but we felt a connection, and so I did some volunteer work in support of what she was doing for Afghanistan.

Q: How did it come about that you traveled to Afghanistan?

A: I was in Afghanistan at the end of last June and early July of 2012. Razia was in Duxbury earlier in the spring at a fundraiser fashion show for the girls school that I photographed for the Clipper. I was so impressed by how the school had grown, so I told Raiza I’d love to go and photograph the school. She said great, you can come and stay with me. For me, the goal was to promote Razia's humanitarian work of educating girls in a region of Afghanistan where there had never been a school for girls.

Q: How many of your photos will be on display?

A: There are 15 to 20. We’re planning on setting up a laptop with a slide show because I have a couple hundred images I want to share. It’s a combination of photos of the school and girls and driving around Kabul. I was a double major in international studies and photography, and my goal was to be an international photojournalist, but my life went in another direction. But I never lost that desire, so this was a great opportunity personally and an opportunity to promote that amazing school.

WHAT: Art Show and Reception

WHERE: Framers Edge, 210 Quincy Ave., Braintree, 781-843-1795

WHEN: 5-7 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 21

TICKETS: Reception is free, donations to the school welcome. Gallery owners will also donate a portion of sales to the school.